Alright, I couldn’t think of any good way to start this post, so how ‘bout a favorite, classic Cody photo for your evening?
I’ll tell ya…if this guys has taught me one thing, it’d definitely have to be this:
As long as you’re in good company, who cares if you’re chillin’ spread-eagle in front of ‘em all.
What a character. 
*******
Tonight, I’m actually headed out to watch Jay’s softball game, so I’m not sure what we have in store for dinner.
Don’t worry my friends, I have something even better in store for you. Remember this past Sunday when I made this…
Oh yes.
Well, many of you were very quickly intrigued on just how I “healthified” a recipe from the one and only, Paula Deen. Some of you even said you’ve tried her original Baked French Toast Casserole…I’m sure it’s flippin’ phenomenal.
However, I’ll betcha mine tastes just as good, but with a whole lot less guilt.
Keep in mind, that this is a Paula Deen recipe that I was dealing with here, folks. I think she has a two-sticks-of-butter minimum in each of her recipes, right?
So what is considered “healthified” here probably would not obtain the same honor in any regular situation. But trust me, I’m still calling it healthified.
Healthified Baked French Toast Casserole
(Adapted from this Paula Deen recipe)
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf French bread, sliced
- 1-1/2 cups egg substitute
- 2 eggs
- 2-1/2 cups skim milk
- 1/2 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- dash salt
- Praline Topping, recipe follows
Directions:
Slice French bread into 20-24 slices (or buy pre-sliced like I did). Arrange slices in a 9×13-inch flat baking dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.
In a large bowl, combine the egg substitute, eggs, milk, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for one hour, until puffed and lightly golden. ENJOY! 
Praline Topping
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 4 tbsp light butter (*I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Light spread)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Spread over bread as directed above and bake.
Okay, I know. There’s still quite a bit of butter in this recipe. There was really no way of getting around it. Darn you, Paula.
But just think of it this way…that amount of butter is in the entire recipe. This recipe is meant to have 6-8 servings. So really, it’s not that badddddd……
At least, that’s what I told myself when I went back for my second serving on Sunday.
Hey, no biggie. We’re all meant to be able to indulge every now and then. So just make it, eat it, and enjoy it. It’s good. Real good.
Paula Deen ain’t got nothin’ on me!
Question for the Evening:
Are there any recipes that you know you love, but try to avoid or only make occasionally because they’re indulgent?
***Just a Reminder: Don’t forget to get your entries in for my Belgian Chocolate Giveaway! You’ve got 4 chances, and until this Saturday, to enter!
Welcome to Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life! I'm Courtney, a 28-year old personal trainer living in Upstate, NY. I enjoy all things related to food, fitness, and fashion, as well as feeding my huge sweet tooth. To find out a little bit more about the girl behind the blog, check out my 
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
yumm can’t wait to try the healthified version!
Elena @ GagaForGrapefruit recently posted..in an instant
came across your blog from hungry runner girl and I’m so glad!! The Paula Dean recipe is a family favorite so I’m so excited to try your healthified version!!
Katie recently posted..HAPPY NURSES WEEK!!!
I love that picture of your cat! SO cute!
Jess (Sweet Potato) recently posted..AC Baby!
This looks great! I am obsessed with baked french toast, but it being healthy makes it SO much better!
Jess@atasteofconfidence recently posted..Summer Excitement
That looks amazing!!!! I will have to try it when I get back home!
That french toast casserole looks good! I only make cinnamon rolls on Thanksgiving and Christmas. For one, they take forever – and two, I always feel a little sick afterwards! So worth it though!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..realist ravioli
Oreo truffles. Nothing but “junk food” in those things but they are so dang good. And I cannot stop eating them. Cannot. So I have to make them VERY rarely. Oh boy do I love when I do make them though. I think they are my favorite treat of all time.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..Self-Love Reflection- Stop Fat Talk
They’re a favorite of mine too, Tina! YUMM!!
That looks soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! Must make this soon!!
Brittney recently posted..Melanies Baby Shower
I am impressed. Great substitutions! I will definitely give that a try. It looks a little drier than Paula’s, but that is a good thing because I thought hers was a little “eggy” and slightly on the soggier side. I don’t like mushy when there is egg involved.
Farrah recently posted..Mix It Up Pasta Salad
I’ve been looking forward to this recipe – yum!
Anything that involves frosting, I try to save for special occasions. If I didn’t, I would seriously be eating frosting for every meal – I can’t control myself!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles recently posted..Huge Fruit
Ok the french toast thing looks amazing! I have to try it
Sarah recently posted..My last day and avocado frosting
I am so happy I stumbled upon your blog! I love french toast and always try to find new ways of making it healthier (tough job).I would never have thought of making a casserole! what a fantastic idea
I’m glad you did, too! Welcome
The base of your recipe actually sounds a lot like bread pudding! And if only it weren’t for the pranline topping, it’d be really healthy!
Butter definitely has its place, and whenever I serve food for a crowd, I always use full-fat versions.
Liv @ The Salty n’ Sweet recently posted..Comfort Food
I loved the sound of it! Feel like hosting a brunch just to serve it! I used to avoid recipes that include butter but I just go with it now- a little bit of the real thing every so often ain’t gonna kill ne (in fact it’ll just make me verrry happy
)
Khushboo recently posted..Rock-bottom motivation
Wooo hooo! i’ve been waiting for this recipe forever. AND you healthified it. And it might even be easy enough for me. I am mucho happy!
Jamie aka “Sometimes Healthy Living Girl” recently posted..Word Up Wednesday- Runpowerment and Call to NYC Bloggers
that looks and sounds AMAZING! I would need to make it in individual servings or i would eat it for every meal all day long until it was gone!
Sarah recently posted..Pamper
I love all the pictures of Cody! I have a long haired orange cat and he is seriously the best!
And that french toast looks so tempting!
Allison recently posted..Flashback
mmmmm, that french toast looks so yummy! and your base version seems super guilt-free for a “sweet” breakfast casserole.
I absolutely adore homemade macaroni and cheese, but I avoid making it except like once a year because I will eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if it’s around, and I only like it made the regular non-healthified way with white pasta and LOTS of cheese, OH HOLY YUM!!!